Consumer’s expectations of quality have risen over the years in the fabrication and construction industry. In the curved steel industry especially for OEM products we rely heavily on inspection and contractor certification to ensure product quality. Inspection looks at the end product, while certification evaluates the processes and procedures used to manufacture the product. Inspection is . . . → Read More: How to Solve Quality Issues

One of the key principals of the Toyota Production System, that spawned such initiatives as just-in-time production and lean manufacturing, is the concept of Genchi Genbutsu which translates into “go and see.” The idea is that shop problems and process improvement opportunities should be identified and dealt with on the shop floor where the activity is . . . → Read More: Genchi Genbutsu: “Go and See” the Curved Metal

Bender/Rollers, those companies that specialize in curving structural steel, steel sheet and steel plate, often supply rolled steel and metal shapes to equipment manufacturers as component parts. These original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) turn to Bender/Rollers precisely because their make-or-buy analysis indicates they should buy these parts.

I have frequently lectured and written about structural steel bending for architects, engineers and structural steel fabricators as well as for undergraduate and graduate school engineering students. In the dialogue that followed the presentations, I have been asked a number of questions.

How much lead time is for required for bending steel sections? How long does it take to fabricate curved steel? What is the schedule impact? Architects, engineers, and structural steel fabricators regularly ask these questions of Benders and Rollers, companies that specialize in curving steel.